In The News

Deglobalization Gains Momentum: PIIE

Douglas A. Irwin April 28, 2020
International trade was already in retreat before the Covid-19. The pandemic will test cross-border supply chains, alliances, investments, travel and other connections. Douglas Irwin, writing for the Peterson Institute for International Economics, warns that protectionist steps to limit trade will slow or even reverse economic growth. He identifies recent eras of globalization: 1870 to 1914,...

Jostle for Dominance in Indo-Pacific Region: SCMP

Minnie Chan April 28, 2020
Military maneuvers continue in the Taiwan Strait, the South China Sea and the East China Sea, as China, the United States and others manage a pandemic response. “The frequency of such tours has raised concerns among military observers and analysts that these exercises could lead to miscalculation as different countries use their militaries to jostle for greater influence or rattle the sabre amid...

Weapons Don’t Fight Pandemics: Deutsche Welle

Miodrag Soric April 27, 2020
Security comes in many forms and some nations invest in broader preparation than others, as demonstrated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Writing for Deutsche Welle, Miodrag Soric argues that countries that focused on arms purchases rather than disaster preparedness struggle with the pandemic. “Tanks, fighter planes and aircraft carriers – where many crew members have fallen ill with the coronavirus –...

Proposal to Ban Chinese From STEM Studies? Newsweek

Benjamin Fearnow April 27, 2020
The spread of Covid-19 has put economies on hold, alarming the world, and leaders look for scapegoats. Arkansas Senator Tom Cotton has accused China of releasing inaccurate data on confirmed Covid-19 cases, and called it a “scandal” that US colleges and universities train so many Chinese. China is the leading source of international students for US colleges and universities. On a television news...

COVID-19 Hits No-Degree Workers: Guardian

Kalyeena Makortoff April 26, 2020
Up to 52 million jobs in Europe are at risk during the pandemic for workers without a university degree, possibly leading to increased social inequality. They may face cuts to hours or pay, temporary furloughs, or permanent layoffs. Workers most at risk include those who work in close proximity to others such as retail staff, cooks and construction workers, while safer jobs consist of those who...

Coronavirus Hits Aerospace: Financial Times

Peggy Hollinger April 25, 2020
Pandemic has reversed optimistic forecasts from only a few months ago, hitting the global aerospace industry led by Boeing and Airbus with cancelled orders and halted production. Government lockdown policies have grounded over 60 percent of the world’s commercial aircraft. Reduced flights force airlines to cut costs and scramble for government aid to survive the hardship. Some 25 million jobs in...

Nations Gradually Reopen Business: Washington Post

Rick Noack and Loveday Morris April 24, 2020
Several countries plan to ease coronavirus restrictions, implying the cautious optimism that life may return to normality. Germany, which took effective measures early, is slowly reopening businesses even though some scientists argue that the country should keep the restriction policy until tracking cases becomes easier, a strategy allowing for a greater degree of freedom in the long term....